Canadian Association for Supported Employment

Supported Employment Essentials

Supported Employment Essentials

CASE Logo, Canadian Association for Supported Employment, Learning and Development

Support, Strategies, and Solutions

Are you new to the field of supported employment? Are you a knowledgeable employment practitioner looking to stay current on evolving practices, tools, and techniques? Are you a stakeholder looking to expand your understanding of diverse and inclusive workforces that include persons who experience disability? If so, the Supported Employment Essentials certificate program is an ideal learning and networking opportunity for you.

Supported employment specialists work in partnership with job seekers and employers to provide individualized supports that value the self-determination and unique skills and attributes of each job seeker while meeting the emerging employment needs of the employer.

This certificate program allows those new to the field of supported employment, as well as experienced practitioners, to build their skills and competence. Each of the eight modules is rooted in emerging best practices and features live webinars, readings, case studies, open discussion forums, and concrete learning activities that promote critical thinking. 

Upon completion, learners will receive micro-credentials that verify their participation in the program and outline the targeted knowledge, skills, and/or competencies addressed. More importantly, they leave the program with an enhanced understanding of supported employment and best practice techniques, ready to apply these effectively into their own work.

The Supported Employment Essentials certificate program has been developed in partnership with the Canadian Association for Supported Employment and the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

Program Delivery

This 8-week facilitated online program offers a blend of both asynchronous (independent) and synchronous (scheduled) learning activities. The asynchronous learning activities include reviewing learning modules, posting in discussion forums, and completing assignments independently every week. Synchronous activities include participating in weekly webinars and open-hour discussions.

The weekly live webinars present additional content. The class size is kept small to facilitate engagement and networking among learners. Both the webinar and the discussion forums offer opportunities for collaboration and feedback from your instructor and cohort (learning group).

If you require an accommodation to participate in this program, please reach out to our National Trainer and Enrollment Coordinator at [email protected] or the Director of Learning and Development at [email protected].

This program is currently available in English. We are working to make the program available in French.

To register for this certificate program, contact: [email protected].

 

Registration Fees

Registrant Type | Type d’inscriptionCost | Cout $ (CDN)
Case Member | Member de l’ACSE$450.00
Non-Member | Non membre
$500.00

Note: The cost does not include HST/GST/PST/QST. The applicable provincial sales tax rate will be applied to your invoice.

Cancellation Policy

To provide you with the best possible learning experience, we keep class sizes small. Due to limited seating, we request that if you must cancel, you do so at least 14 days before the scheduled start of the class to receive a full refund. If you must cancel with less than 14 days’ notice, we will do our best to fill your spot with another interested participant. If we are successful, we will reimburse you for your full registration fees. If we are not able to fill your spot, we will refund you 50% of your fees. We are not able to offer refunds for cancellations made after the course has begun.

*Customized dates/options available for large groups.

Prerequisites

We encourage learners to review CASE’s 9 Guiding Principles for Supported Employment

Book an appointment with our Enrollment Coordinator to discuss this certificate program and other learning opportunities.​

If you are experiencing any technical difficulties registering for this program, please reach out to [email protected].

To discuss accommodations or to register more than 5 learners at one time, please reach out to our Director of Learning and Development [email protected].

Upcoming Training Sessions

Start Date

February 5, 2024

End Date

March 31, 2024 (continuous 8 weeks, there is no break)

Course Length:

8 weeks

Location

Online Learning

Start Date

April 22, 2024

End Date

June 23, 2024 (1 week break for CASE conference)

Course Length:

8 weeks

Location

Online Learning

Start Date

September 16, 2024

End Date

November 10, 2024 (continuous 8 weeks, there is no break)

Course Length:

8 weeks

Location

Online Learning

Start Date

November 18, 2024

End Date

January 26, 2025 (2 week break from Mon., Dec. 23 – Sun., Jan. 5)

Course Length:

8 weeks

Location

Online Learning

Frequently Asked Questions

What Our Members Are Saying​

"I can’t even begin to explain the numerous new perspectives I gained while taking the SEE program. The instructors helped guide us through each new concept and technique to ensure we consistently provide quality services within our respective organizations."

Stephanie Gould


Employment Maintenance Worker
Nova Scotia Works – Cumberland African Nova Scotian Association
"This course helped me refine what Supported Employment looks like. It allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and get familiar with new ways of approaching employers, supporting clients, and working with my organization to be better in the future.”

Leslie York


Youth Leadership Coordinator
YMCA of Cape Breton
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1. How do I know if this is the right training opportunity for me?

Are you new to the field of Supported Employment, a more experienced practitioner looking for a refresher, or perhaps a stakeholder looking for the latest practices and information in the field? f so, this program offers.

  • a foundational understanding of the overarching principles, values, and frameworks that guide the field of supported employment; 
  • an awareness of relevant federal and provincial accessibility and employment legislation; 
  • an understanding of the strength-based discovery process, 
  • a familiarity with key concepts including job carving, job customization, job proposals, and accommodations; and,
  • the ability to employ strategies for maintaining strong employer relations and maximizing engagement.

If you’re unsure, we invite you to book a discussion with our Enrollment Coordinator to further explore best fit.  You can schedule a time that works for you by emailing [email protected].

2. How many weeks does it take to complete this certificate program?

This is an online 8-week program (8 weekly modules) and will require a total of 40 hours to complete.

3. How many hours should I dedicate to this program each week?

We recommend allocating at least five (5) hours per week. One (1) hour per week will be allocated to the weekly live webinar, while the remaining weekly commitments can be completed on your own time.

4. Where does the training take place?

This program is completed online via the CASE Learning Portal.

5. What are the weekly requirements?

To successfully complete this program, learners are required to complete the following by Sunday evening every week: 

  • Review all modular content and resources.  
  • Participate in the discussion forum by posting one (1) original post and responding to two (2) others.  
  • Attend the weekly live webinar.  
  • Complete the knowledge check.  
  • Submit the learning activity (requires an 80% grade to pass).
6. What happens if I miss one of the webinars?

We encourage all learners to schedule allocated time to complete program requirements (and attend the weekly live webinars) in advance to prevent meeting conflicts and promote a positive learning experience.

However, we recognize that due to an unforeseen circumstance you may miss one of the webinars or require an extension to complete your weekly commitments. In thiscenarioplease reach out directly to your Facilitator as soon as possible to develop a learning plan, which will help you stay on track.

7. When do the weekly live webinars take place?

In Supported Employment Essentials, the weekly live webinars occur on Wednesdays from 12 – 1 p.m. eastern time.

8. Where do the weekly live webinars take place?

The webinars take place via the Zoom platform. Please make sure you have a Zoom account set up in advance of the first webinar and join with a working microphone and video camera to be able to fully participate.

You can access the meeting details within the learning portal itself. Additionally, your Facilitator will regularly send you the meeting details in their weekly communications.

10. I require an accommodation. Who should I speak with?

We invite you to review our Accessibility Statement and to connect with the Director of Learning and Development if you require an accommodation for any of our programs.

11. What is your refund/cancellation policy?

To provide you with the best possible learning experience, we keep class sizes small. If you must cancel, please notify the Learning & Development team 14 days before the scheduled start date to receive a full refund. If you must cancel with less than 14 days’ notice, we will do our best to fill your seat with another interested participant. If we are successful, we will reimburse you for your full registration fee. If we are not successful, we will refund you 50% of your fee. We are not able to offer refunds for cancellations made after the training has begun. 
 

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